Physical education in Alaska is based on standards developed by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, which focuses on physical education as a content area in a total educational program. According to the Department, physical education is essential for the health and well-being of every student in Alaska, including those with special needs.

In Alaska, a physical education program must:

Focus on fitness

Teach skills that lead to the enjoyment of lifelong physical activity

Embraces challenges unique to Alaska, including its geographic location, its cultural diversity, its climate and its local school structure

Enhance all areas of a student’s development, including their:

Health

Academic performance

Movement knowledge

Physical fitness

Goal setting

Self-esteem

Stress management

Social skills

Alaska also recognizes a physically educated student as someone who is able to:

Demonstrate competency in motor and movement skills as to perform a variety of physical activities

Participate regularly in physical activity

Apply fitness concepts to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of personal fitness

Exhibit personal and social behavior that ensures the respect of everyone in physical activity settings

Value physical activity for social interaction, health, enjoyment, and challenge

Step 1. Complete a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher from a Regionally Accredited College or University

All applicants for an initial teacher certification in Alaska must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution.

However, you may also qualify for teacher certification as a physical education teacher in Alaska by achieving a State Recommendation. This applies if you have completed:

A state-approved (non-university program) teacher preparation program for certification in another state

OR

An Institutional Recommendation if you have completed either an Alaska Approved Teacher Education Program or a university teacher preparation program in another state

Even if you have not yet completed a teacher preparation program you may also qualify for certification and be eligible to fill PE teacher jobs in Alaska by submitting proof of program enrollment to the Board of Education.

Step 2. Complete a Basic Competency Examination

Teachers in Alaska must meet the basic competency exam requirement for teacher certification in Alaska, which includes achieving passing scores in reading, writing, and mathematics through the completion of one of the following approved basic competency examinations:

PRAXIS I, Pre-Professional Skills Test: You must achieve the following passing scores on the PRAXIS I:

Reading: 175

Writing: 174

Math: 173

PRAXIS Academic Skills for Educators (This examination will replace the PRAXIS I as of July 1, 2014.) You must achieve the following passing scores on the ASE:

Reading: 156

Writing: 162

Math: 150

Alabama Work Keys

California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)

Florida Teacher Certification Examination – General Knowledge:

Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators

Illinois Certification Testing System

Michigan Test for Teacher Certification

New Mexico Assessment of Teacher Basic Skills

New York State Teacher Certification, Liberal Arts and Science Test

Oklahoma General Education Test

Washington Educator Skills Test (WEST-B)

Step 3. Apply for an Alaska PE Teacher Certificate

Depending on your background and qualifications, you may apply for one of the following teacher certificates in Alaska:

All applicants for teacher certification in Alaska must complete the Teacher Certification Application for Initial Certification and send it, along with one completed fingerprint card (email the teacher certification office at tcwebmail@alaska.gov to request a fingerprint card), all related documentation (proof of basic competency examination and program completion), and a cashier’s check or money order (made payable to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development) for $185 ($125 application fee and $60 fingerprint processing fee) to:

Department of Education and Early Development
Teacher Education and Certification
P.O. Box 110500
Juneau, Alaska 99811

Step 4. Renew your PE Teacher Certification

Second Initial Teacher Certificate

The next step in teacher certification in Alaska for physical education teachers is the Second Initial Teacher Certificate, which is valid for a period of three years. To qualify for this certificate, you must show proof of the completion of (if you haven’t done so already):

The professional certificate is valid for a period of five years and is renewable upon the completion of:

Six semester hours of credit, with at least three semester hours of those credits being in upper division or graduate credits

Verification of employment in an Alaska public school district

All certificate renewals in Alaska, including those for physical education teaching certification, are completed online.

Phys Ed Teacher Salary in Alaska

Both the U.S. Department of Labor and the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development have not been able to truly capture the average Alaska PE teacher salary. However, we can get a good idea of how PE teachers in Alaska are being paid by looking to the individual school districts.